The Christmas Season is my favorite time of the year. I love the festive decor, the tasty food, and the shopping. But what makes it my favorite time of year, is the fact that the giving spirit really comes out. There are food drives, Angel Trees, adopted families, etc. It seems if similar campaigns occurred in June or any other time of the year, they likely wouldn’t be as successful. People may not have time or money. But at Christmas the giving becomes contagious and regardless of your current situation, most people find ways to give. Last Christmas we “adopted” two families. We raised money and collected donations through the Red Rock Cafe, over $2,000 in fact. Then we got to shop and play Santa. I can’t tell you what I got for Christmas last year or many of the years really. Of course a few distinct gifts stick out, but I can tell you I will never forget the look on those people’s faces when we delivered them a bundle of gifts and an envelope filled with cash. The joy of giving was abundantly more exciting than the joy of receiving. We left their homes with the Christmas feeling, that internal warmth, and smiles that just wouldn’t seem to go away. We knew that while the families were struggling in various ways, their Christmas was made brighter because they knew someone cared. If you’ve never had the opportunity to buy gifts for a stranger and deliver them, I encourage it! I contacted a local organization who helps families throughout the year who are struggling financially and they were more than happy to give me names of people they had helped at some point.
I put a board together of what Christmas is to me, in Arizona. Chili wreaths, tamales, and pecan balls say Christmas to me. On Christmas Eve it is typical to have Mexican food for dinner and I always wonder how people got all those lights on their cacti! Happy Holidays!
What are your favorite Christmas traditions? More importantly, what is your favorite Christmas cookie?
I would love to see colorful lights on cacti! That sounds so pretty (and warm!). On Christmas eve my brother and I always open our gifts to each other. This started when we were young and BEGGED to open just one gift.
I also still sleep at my mom + dad’s house so I can wake up Christmas morning where I always have…since i was 7, anyway. 
Yes, I am 30.
Ah That sounds fabulous! We moved way too much to have that but I think that is great for kids, to always be able to go home, no matter how old they are!
Love this board – it’s so creative and unique {not to mention festive}! I love Parisian wafers. We make them from my Grandma’s recipe and they are just too good!
I have never had Parisian wafers, I will have to add them to the cookie making agenda this year!